Colombo to Hanoi Flights

  About Colombo

Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is one of the holiday destinations that you must add to your travel list. It is also known for its eclectic dining scene and its nightlife. It is also a great place to shop for clothes, wedding invitations and indulge in spa treatments. Sri Lanka is also known for its wildlife and elephant sanctuaries. It is the perfect place to go to if you want to club your luxurious, relaxing holiday plans with adventures. You can either volunteer to help out at an Elephant Sanctuary or sign up for a walking tour. Do try the ayurvedic spas in the city to relieve yourself of all the stress. You can book a hotel in Colombo at an affordable price. While it is not exactly the cheapest holiday destination in Asia, it is worth every money spent. The city is also known for its temples and no matter which religion you follow, you will find a temple of your choice of deity/religion here.

Best Time to Visit Colombo

January to March is ideal for taking off to Colombo on a trip since they are the driest months of the year. The best season to visit, however, is winter from November to March. Winters are quite chilly, and it is the best time to go sightseeing, too. The rainfall does not affect any of your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activities. It is also an ideal time to head to the beaches and indulges in a few water activities. Colombo also has a very vibrant nightlife that is best experienced in winter when there is barely any rainfall. You can book a hotel in Colombo that is either close to the beach or the nightclubs, depending on how you intend to spend your holiday. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degree Celsius. January to March is the high tourist season in Colombo, and a lot of attractions will be filled with tourists. Colombo is also filled with festive spirit during these months as they celebrate festivals like Thai Pongal, Independence Day of Sri Lanka, New Year and Duruthu Perahera Festival. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Colombo well in advance if you are on a budget. If you are planning to go to Colombo on your honeymoon, this is the best time to go.

Colombo experiences summer from May to October, and it is considered as an off-season for tourists. Not only is it unbearably hot in the city, but it is also quite humid, so much that you won't feel like stepping out of your hotel at all. The temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees and will only make you uncomfortable. However, since it is offseason, you will get great flight deals to Colombo online. It also rains during this season and might lead to a hailstorm sometimes. If you are not an outdoorsy person and prefer indoor activities, this might be the best time for you to head to Colombo. You will also get really good hotels at a reasonable price during this time since it is offseason and the demand is low. You can sip cocktails by the pool in your hotel or indulge in relaxing spa treatments. You can also explore the Pettah market during this time without being hassled by the tourist crowd. It starts raining from May to August, and it rains intermittently in September and October. The temperature ranges around 28 degree Celsius during this time.

Places to Visit in Colombo

Galle Face Green is a popular beach park in Colombo that you can visit. You can also indulge in a lot of water activities at the beach. Pettah Market is another popular destination where you can go on a shopping spree and walk away with high-end luxury items at the lowest prices. Fort-Colombo is an important tourist attraction in the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the political and cultural heritage of the country and is also known for its vibrant nightlife. A major part is shut because of the turbulence caused by the Civil War. You will also find a lot of casinos here. The National Museum of Colombo is the largest one in Sri Lanka. It was founded by the British Governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, William Henry Gregory. You will find artwork that dates back to the British Colonial and Portuguese era, along with a lot of artefacts. The Gangaramaya temple is famous for its blend of culture and architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese and India. It was built in the 19th century and is a place of Buddhist worship and learning. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is another Buddhist temple that was built in the 5th century, which holds a lot of historical importance. The temple sees a lot of tourists and devotees during the Duruthu Maha Perehera every January and on full moon days of every month. The paintings and sculptures in the temple will tell you tales from Lord Buddha's life and the Jataka Tales.

Beira Lake is another popular landmark in the city where you can head to if you want to relax and soak in the beautiful views. It is also a highly recommended place for couples to head to in Colombo. Colombo Zoo also called the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka, houses over 300 different species of animals, birds, marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Casino Marina started in 2013 and is usually filled with elite tourists in the evenings. You can gamble away till wee hours of the night or enjoy the view of the sea from here. World Trade Centre is one of the most famous colonial buildings that you will find in the Old Fort area. St Lucia's Cathedral got its name after the saint martyr, St Lucia, who is believed to have protected everyone with eye problems in Colombo. It was built in 1760, and the Gothic style architecture draws tourists to it every year. Panadura and Crow Island Beaches are quite popular in the city and the best spots to indulge in recreational activities. You will find a lot of beach parks and temples in the city that are worth a visit.

Things to do in Colombo

Sign up for a city tour of Colombo and indulge in all the activities that come with your tour package. You can also get a customised tour of places that are of interest to you and activities that you have listed in your itinerary. Sri Lanka is known for its seafood and treating yourself to fresh seafood at Mt Lavinia Beach is highly recommended. While you can always rent a taxi for the entire day to get around the city, you can also enjoy a tuk-tuk ride, which is a popular way for locals to get around the city. Pettah Market, Good Market, Paradise Road are some of the popular places in the city for you to go on a shopping spree. You can also indulge in rejuvenating massage therapies at the spas in Colombo. The city also offers scuba diving at certain locations. If you want to give water sports a try, make sure you try this one. Most beaches also have boating, surfing and other water activities for you to try.

Food and Restaurants in Colombo

Seafood, especially prawns, is popular in Colombo since it is a coastal city. Curry Leaf and Seafood's Cove are some of the popular restaurants for you to binge on seafood or other types of meat. The city also has a lot of Indian restaurants; a lot of them have a vegetarian menu, too. Spice Coast is known for its biryani, Chana's for delicious North Indian cuisine and Shanmugas for its vegetarian menu. While you are trying seafood in the city, make sure you also try the chilli crabs. Paradise Road Gallery Cafe is a lovely cafe that is set in a walled garden and also has rotating exhibitions by local artists. It is considered as one of the most romantic restaurants in Colombo and is popular for its cakes. Rare is a chic and modern restaurant in Colombo with wonderful service. The restaurant uses organic produce to cook their unique, delicious cuisines and also boast of a wine cellar with over 150 labels. The lagoon is one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo, and the fish curries, lobster Thermidor and raw sashimi are their speciality dishes.

How to reach Colombo (Transportation)

Bandaranaike International Airport, also called Colombo International Airport, is about 32 km north of Colombo. The flight connectivity to Colombo from India is excellent. While there are only a few direct flights to Colombo from India, most of the flights have layovers in Chennai or Bangalore. GoAir, Indigo and Spicejet have the maximum number of flights from India. However, Vistara and Srilankan Airlines have direct flights that help you reach the city in 2-3 hours instead of 6 hours. It is also quite easy to get cheap flight tickets to Colombo from India.

  About Hanoi

Snuggled up in the Northern terrains of the green country, Vietnam is the lovely capital Hanoi. The city is an architectural and cultural hub of the Southeast Asian country. Hanoi has birthed many famous dishes, enabling the relevance of Vietnamese cuisine on a global map. It is an important city and has brilliant connectivity with the rest of the world.

Best time to visit Hanoi

Spring and autumn automatically become the most favoured seasons in Hanoi, thanks to the scorching summer heat. The geographical overview of Hanoi is such that the city witnesses a subtropical climate year-round. The winters in Hanoi are cold and dry, which is quite the contrast from the summers which are hot, humid and wet. February to April brings some refreshing air into the city as the weather is not too hot or too cold. Thanks to the pleasant weather, indulging in touristy activities becomes much easier. Many fields and plants bloom during this season, which only adds to the exquisite landscape of Hanoi and Vietnam. The season also brings a surge in the hotel prices and flight tickets. As a city which witnesses a high number of tourists during the spring months, flights to Hanoi as well as hotels become quite expensive. Hence, it would be best to plan a trip in advance and make prior flight and hotel bookings to Hanoi.

Similarly, even the autumn months from October to November are quite ideal. The temperature starts to drop but to a pleasant number. Not to mention how the fields and expanses of green turn yellow and golden, adding to the beauty of Vietnam. Under the blue skies, this is a sight for sore eyes. This time also witnesses a significant number of tourists from around the world, leading to a surge in the flight and hotel prices. If you are opting for a budget trip, winters would be quite good for you as the temperatures are super low but pleasant. Not to mention how the off-season is also something that reduces the ticket and hotel prices, making budget trips possible. Summers are not the best in Hanoi. Due to the excess humidity and precipitation in the air, the city witnesses a hotter climate. Interestingly, Hanoi's summers also become their monsoon as both the climates are experienced.

Places to visit in Hanoi

Hanoi has some extraordinary sights with infrastructural bliss that you will only find out about once you visit the city. The rich rice paddies and green expanse might have tantalised your views of what to expect from Hanoi. However, the city has more to offer in the form of architectural delights. Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the famous tourist spots in Hanoi for all the right reasons. Also known by the name H? G??m, the lake is located in the midst of Hanoi's historical sites. Over the years, the city's focal tourist attraction has found several names to be remembered by including 'Luc Thuy Lake' and 'Thuy Quan Lake'. The location is so pristine and quaint that you will instantly fall in love with it. Hold your emotions, though as there are a few more places in Hanoi to make you poignant. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one such place which serves as the tomb of the famous Vietnamese revolutionary leader, President Ho Chi Minh. It is situated in Ba Dinh square where he first took up the position as the chairman of the Worker's Party of Vietnam in 1951 and died in 1969.

You should also visit the V?n Mi?u, a temple that has been dedicated to the Confucius. The temple complex is also known to host the Imperial Academy, which is Vietnam's first national university. The structure and the complex of the temple is certainly beautiful and worth visiting. The Th?ng Long Citadel is another gorgeous location with pristine historic buildings that have been constructed to celebrate the flourishing history of Hanoi. Hoa Lo Prison Relic is another intriguing tourist attraction in Hanoi that showcases the fate of prisoners during the French colonial rule in Vietnam. The prison was later also used to lock up war prisoners from the US army during the Vietnam War. The structure holds a lot of history and significance that you should learn about. It will be quite interesting to know more about the tales of Vietnam and its struggling history with various conflicts.

Things to do in Hanoi

Vietnamese delicacies are a big hit among food fanatics. However, for those who wish to drown themselves in the tranquillity and serenity of Hanoi, you can visit the freshwater lake West Lake, which is on the northwest of Hanoi's city centre. With an exquisite view of the sparkling lake and the surrounding green beauty, the location automatically becomes one of the best places to be in when in Hanoi. You can actually book hotel rooms in Hanoi's paradise. The lake is popular for entertaining various tourist activities such as canoeing on the lake as well as boating. You can sit and enjoy some quiet fishing too or just savour the beauty of the lake. Another interesting thing that you could do in Hanoi would be to get yourself some tickets to Vietnamese shows and watch it at the Grand Opera House (also known as Hanoi Opera House). It would be quite an experience considering how the theatre's acoustics are marvellous.

Food and restaurants in Hanoi

Vietnamese cuisine owes a lot of their fame to Hanoi. It is beloved that a majority of the dishes that have found international acclaim are actually all thanks to Hanoi's discoveries. From using the finest ingredients in the food to bringing forth a brilliant melange of flavours, the Vietnamese from Hanoi have bolstered the Vietnamese cuisine. Hence, it would be a shame to not explore this part of the culture. You should definitely indulge in some street food sessions as well as fine dining experiences to make the most of your wanderlust in Hanoi.

The Hanoi Social Club is one such place that brings forth a quaint environment teamed with beautiful Mediterranean spread with vegetarian delights too. The restaurant also acknowledges musicians, who come and perform to perform to entertain the crowd. Red Bean Restaurant is majorly Vietnamese-based with cuisine reflecting the city's finest food. It has an upscale setting which might be fun to indulge in. Do not miss their bún ch? and ph?, which are widely recognised in the world. At the Hung Snake restaurant, you will get to experience what snakes taste like as the place is known to cook snakes in many ways. Their biggest speciality though is the snake whiskey which draws a lot of tourist attention. Hanoi's Ch? Cá Th?ng Long might not have a long list of menu with far too many dishes. But you wouldn't need them as they only specialise in a few meals and have aced the cooking. Hence, they have quite a reputation in the city. You can get a taste of fusion food at Pizza 4P's Tràng Ti?n where you will get to taste the Vietnamese pan pizzas which do have the consistency of an Italian dough.

How to reach Hanoi

Hanoi has brilliant flight connectivity. Vietnam is always in demand for backpackers and budget travellers. Thanks to the lush green beauty of the land added with the potential to engage in social and environmental causes brings a lot of travellers to the city. Airlines such as IndiGo, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Dragon Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Silkair, Vietnam Airlines, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Hanoi or connecting with the city. There are no provisions of direct or nonstop flights to Hanoi from India. However, there are many options to connect from India to Hanoi. The most popular route to Hanoi often chosen by tourists is from Hong Kong. The duration from Hong Kong is the least and hence, is the most preferred. There are other international routes to Hanoi too that connect from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and even Bangkok. The flight duration is only seven hours and ten minutes. However, depending on the flight that you pick, it could vary. Not to mention the climate conditions during the venture. Travelling by flight is the most convenient way to reach Hanoi, and it is also the fastest way to go.

Flight tickets to Hanoi are not very expensive. You can easily make a round trip to Hanoi for as less as INR 40,000. Many of the South Asian countries have cheap flight tickets, making travel very pocket-friendly and convenient. There are a plethora of cheap flight tickets to Hanoi available. In fact, you might even be able to get hold of some great discounts and flight tickets to Hanoi online. It is essential that you start booking in advance if you want to make the most of the discounts and online deals to Hanoi. Many of these deals also include accommodation. Basically, you can make your flight and hotel bookings to Hanoi online and get massive discounts for the same. The season you pick is essential as that would further help in deciding whether you can avail the cheap hotels and flights to Hanoi. The city is constantly bustling with many tourists and NGO workers.

  About Colombo Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, popularly known as Bandaranaike International Airport is the international hub that serves Sri Lanka. The airport is situated at Negombo and has been named after SWRD Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

About Airport Terminals

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport stretches about 32.5 km at Katunayake. The airport accommodates three passenger terminals with Terminal 1 being reserved for international airlines and flight activity. Terminal 2 also caters to international activities while Terminal 3 is set for domestic airline functions. Terminal 1 is the oldest and largest terminal in the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport with 12 gates. It opened back in 1967. Departure and arrival are also located in the same terminal and separated horizontally. Currently, all the international operations take place from this terminal. The terminal is connected to one concourse which has all the 12 gates. The terminal also has two lounges with Srilankan Airlines' famous Serendib Lounge being installed. Along with this, the Palm Spirit lounge is also located in proximity. Terminal 1 also has a dedicated cafeteria, day-rooms, showers, duty-free shops and a smoking lounge.

Terminal 2 has been constructed and opened much recently. It has eight gates and accommodates departure and arrival areas which are separated vertically. As per expansion plans, the airport plans to build an extension to Terminal 2 which will be built in stages and phases. The new terminal is set to have eight boarding gates along with 14 passenger boarding bridges. The proposed development plan also has bridge accommodations for Airbus A380. Terminal 3 came into existence in 2012 and has since been used for domestic operations. The departure and arrival zones are strategically separated in a horizontal manner. There is a dedicated Cargo Terminal that takes care of all cargo airline activities. The arrival and departure are separated in the same way as terminal 1, horizontally.

About Airport Authority

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka while it is operated by Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL). AASL is a government body that has statutory powers to administer, manage and work on the development of the airport. The statutory body is also known to be a big contributor to Sri Lanka's economy as the civil aviation industry has witnessed tremendous financial revenues from the airport. Other airports that also fall under the AASL umbrella are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport.

The airport has been going through some tremendous expansion plans and developments with a view to accommodating more airlines and flights. A split-level passenger terminal building is being constructed which would be separating both the departures as well as the arrivals vertically. Further on the same, there are constructions for a passenger boarding bridges that would directly connect to the new Airbus A380. Adding to the infrastructure would be a remote apron along with nine parking bays to facilitate air traffic movement. Stage II of the expansion seeks to acquiesce 600 hectares of land for construction of a new runway that can accommodate newer airplanes as well as aircraft maintenance and repair centre.

Top airlines flying from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport accommodates various airlines as it is recognized to be one of the best tourist destinations. With its proximity to India, the airport sees a good amount of flights flying to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from the Indian cities. Some of the biggest Indian airlines operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. These airlines have dedicated direct flights to Sri Lanka. Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, to name a few, have provisions of direct flight connections to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.

Similarly, various international airlines are also linked to Sri Lanka. In fact, some of the international airlines that operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and SCAT Airlines. A majority of the flight activities come from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. A handful of cargo carriers also fly in and out of the airport. These include Cathay Pacific Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Etihad Cargo.

Facilities at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

ATM, banks and currency exchange - The airport has a bunch of local banks and ATM services available. If you need to make the currency exchange for travelling within Sri Lanka or if you need some cash in hand for your destination outside the country, it can be arranged at the airport's premise.

Communication services - If you are in need of a local SIM service for your trip, you can get hold of the same at the airport itself. There are booths at the arrivals where they have telecommunication services. With necessary identification documents, you can get hold of the SIM.

Free WiFI - There are free WiFi services available at the airport. You will need to go to the website of Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport to avail the same. Or you can visit the information desk to learn more about how to work around it.

Medical services - To ensure that medical emergencies at the airport are resolved quickly, the airport has also installed designated medical rooms and services. You can find them as well as pharmacies also at the airport. In case you are unable to find them, you can visit the nearest information desk and get more details. The airport paramedic services are known to be of good quality.

Baggage - With respect to baggage services, the airport offers a slew of facilities that would be beneficial. You can get hold of services ranging from wrapping plastic on the luggage, trolleys, storage facilities for the luggage, delivering luggage to the specified destination and more.

Pet assistance - There is room for pet services at the airport too. In case you are travelling with pets, there are professional staff who can take care of your pets as well as their needs. They would require authorized papers and documents from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Porter service - You can avail porter services at the airport. Basically, you will have to inform your airlines well in advance to book a porter service. The airport staff will escort you through the terminals and take care of your luggage. This would include a security check of the bags, wrapping services, etc.

Airport lounge - There are three lounges at the airport, namely, Lotus, Araliya and Executive. The lounges have been designed in a way to enhance tranquillity and excellent hospitality. You can relax in the lounge, and at the same time, you can avail their services too. These include rich culinary delights, good resting space and complimentary showers and spa.

Restaurants and cafe - Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport has many restaurants and cafes available. The departures and arrivals have good food establishments located perfectly to cater to passengers. Along with restaurants, the airport also as dedicated food courts that is in proximity to the lounge area.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Sri Lanka. Hence, the airport has also reserved a space for a smoking lounge. You can make purchases for cigarette boxes at nearby shops within the airport premise.

Transit Hotel - The airport's transit hotel is named Serendiva and offers world-class contemporary decor, aesthetic construction, modern amenities and top-notch hospitality. The interiors are known to bring about the rich culture of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the main pier of the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport's arrival/departure zone. The hotel is also surrounded by duty-free shops, lounges, immigration counters, cafes and more.

How to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

The airport offers exemplary transport services and is well-connected to the main city. Although you would be required to travel a little depending on your itinerary and which part of the country you'll be visiting. But you will be able to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from different parts of the country. There are public buses, transport services and taxicabs available.

Buses

Express public buses are available within the city that can reach you to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. It would only take about 25 mins to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from Colombo (Pettah) bus stand. From here, you can traverse through all parts of the country without any hassle. You will need to get used to the crowd because the buses are always packed.

Taxicab services

The city is well-connected by taxicab services that can be availed to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. In fact, the airport also sees counters and lanes with taxi services outside the airport's arrival section. The arrival porch allows a fleet of 600 vehicles with fixed rates. With the taxicab, you can reach any part of the country, but it might get expensive depending on the distance from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.